COMMENTARY: School board in a tailspin

Our school board is apparently in a tailspin. I am a member of five boards at present each one receives a monthly budget report showing cash position, short-term and long-term debt. That is standard for any entity entrusted with public funds.

How can it be that our school board "suddenly" discovers a $5 million debt service payment on construction bonds? Either staff is not providing the information or the board has been ignoring it.

But that is not even the worst of it. They state the tax rate will quadruple. Let's look a little deeper. In tax year 2008/2009 the rate was .008. When the bonds were issued in 2010 the rate jumped to .023. Today, due to lack of proper financial planning, the taxpayers who authorized the bonds will pay at the rate of .084. That is more than 10 times the tax rate prior to the bonds being issued.

If the school board ever again expects to enjoy the support of taxpayers like me-who lobbied for these bonds but now am dismayed by the sloppy handling of the contracts and finances-it needs to take prompt corrective action.

I read the district is seeking a "second opinion from a third-party expert". That won't be cheap, but here is some free straightforward advice as to how to solve this problem.

To the school board: "You cannot fail to have your own house in order and expect the taxpayers to quietly pay and pay to cover your own shortfalls. Live within your means as we little people must."

Here's a solution that does not overburden the taxpayers and may restore some faith in the board. Cancel the Clark & Sullivan contract of $3.7 million. That also liberates some $700,000 in contingency and inspection funds tied to that contract. Add in $250,000 in annual energy savings from solar installations. Now you have $4.65 out of the projected shortfall of $5.0 million, and you do not have to slam your taxpayers with your badly managed debt.

Please handle your debts properly, then issue more bonds for your future construction Phase 2 when ready. But before you do so, please quit playing around with C&S. The voters have made it clear, at the polls and in your meetings, that they want local contractors and quality stick-built construction on this job.

How about you give us the work and costs as promised?

Hal Wagenet is a Willits resident, former county supervisor, school district supporter and dismayed taxpayer.